He expected the Second Papdesi National Conference to deliver useful recommendations to the central government in ensuring well-targeted policies and initiatives.
"We await recommendations resulting from this second national conference. We will later forward your input to stakeholders or policymakers," Susanto told conference participants in his speech at the ministry office in Jakarta on Monday.
The minister emphasized that through recommendations, rural governments could play an advisory yet critical role in assisting national authorities to deliver tangible benefits to village communities from programs introduced under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership.
He then highlighted the need for village involvement and support for the Red and White Village Cooperatives program, the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, and the tuition-free education initiative Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School).
On that note, he underlined that villages across Indonesia can benefit from the MBG program by supplying essential, valuable ingredients such as chicken meat and eggs, fish, vegetables, and fruits.
He explained that the approach focuses on developing thematic villages to harness each rural community’s potential and resources.
Susanto expressed confidence that such efforts could extend economic opportunities from the nutrition program to rural residents and enable them to improve their welfare.
Quoting the first vice president of Indonesia Mohammad Hatta the minister said that national development requires stimulating equitable growth across villages rather than adopting a Jakarta-centered approach.
He then reiterated the need for all elements of the nation including Papdesi to work together to ensure the success of national priority programs.
The minister concluded that these collective efforts are particularly aimed at elevating rural living standards across the country.
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Translator: Tri Meilani, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Arie Novarina
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